Reviews

We think of Oklahoma! as a classic – but in truth, it was totally revolutionary in its time. It marked the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics). The show was a ‘book musical’ – a Broadway show in which the story, told with genuine emotion and conflict, was just as important as the music. The songs were tailored to each character and plot point, rather than merely being entertaining fluff.

Director Mark Wilson presents a vision of this play that pushes the boundaries of its humour by accentuating the visual and physical gags inherent in the text frequently beyond their usual limits. This produces a play which is full of rollicking fun, non-stop laughter with a very satirical perspective. Wilson provides a very unconventional interpretation of the play and works through both the romance and the comedy with unrelenting boldness.  

Koorliny Arts Centre’s Shrek is a fabulous looking big production, playing to capacity crowds. Joyful and vibrant with a large, energetic cast, this is a well-acted and sung production that leaves its audience smiling.

In a cultural landscape where “multidisciplinary” is often shorthand for vaguely related art forms co-existing politely, Brisbane Music Festival’s double bill bloodpaths and Orpheus proves the term can still mean something muscular, imaginative and deeply integrated. Across two richly contrasting halves, Artistic Director Alex Raineri and his collaborators offer a fiercely contemporary evening that sits somewhere between meditation, provocation and tectonic shift in how sound, movement and image can co author meaning.